The curse of the weremyawa is a mythical tale that has captured the imagination of many storytellers over the centuries. This intriguing myth tells the story of a creature known as the weremyawa, a hybrid being that is part human and part animal. According to the legend, the weremyawa is cursed to live a life torn between its human and animal selves. During the day, it appears as a normal human, blending in with society and leading a fairly normal life. However, as night falls, the curse takes hold, transforming the weremyawa into a fearsome animal creature. The curse is said to have been inflicted upon the weremyawa by a vengeful witch or a powerful deity, but the origins of the curse vary from story to story.
Since Ghoulies was made in 1984, it features most of the mid-80s horror film clichés. Shortly after moving in, Graves throws a party, so we get big hair, tight miniskirts, skinny ties, recreational drug use, and so on. We also get our eventual fodder for our body count, although in this case, it is worth noting that writer/director Luca Bercovici introduces a "twist" near the end that significantly decreases the body count.
25 years later, Jonathan Peter Liapis learns that his father has passed away and he has inherited his estate, including a large home that is now in disrepair. We also get our eventual fodder for our body count, although in this case, it is worth noting that writer director Luca Bercovici introduces a twist near the end that significantly decreases the body count.
The curse is said to have been inflicted upon the weremyawa by a vengeful witch or a powerful deity, but the origins of the curse vary from story to story. Some tales suggest that the creature was once a normal human who angered the gods, while others claim that it was the result of a dark magic ritual gone wrong. Regardless of its origins, the curse presents numerous challenges for the weremyawa.
User Reviews
As an infant, Jonathan Graves is absconded from his father, Malcolm (Michael Des Barres), the leader of a black magic cult, when Malcolm almost sacrifices Jonathan in a ritual. 25 years later, Jonathan (Peter Liapis) learns that his father has passed away and he has inherited his estate, including a large home that is now in disrepair. He moves there with Rebecca (Lisa Pelikan), and soon after begins acting strangely, instinctively following his father's footsteps.
If you're a fan of campy, cheesy horror films, as I am, Ghoulies is a must see. Everyone else should probably avoid this film. This is a Charles Band production. Charles Band means Empire/Full Moon, and Empire/Full Moon is almost a guarantee of some campiness/cheesiness. Not many of Band's films, however, approach the sublime ridiculousness of Ghoulies. We're almost in Troma territory here, but Ghoulies is played much more seriously than the typical Troma production, and in this case, it works to increase the entertainment value.
Since Ghoulies was made in 1984, it features most of the mid-80s horror film clichés. Shortly after moving in, Graves throws a party, so we get big hair, tight miniskirts, skinny ties, recreational drug use, and so on. We also get our eventual fodder for our body count, although in this case, it is worth noting that writer/director Luca Bercovici introduces a "twist" near the end that significantly decreases the body count.
Liapis is the focus of the film, though, and without him, Ghoulies might be more boring than campy. His absurd overacting, often in solo scenes, takes up a majority of screen time. Still, just the brief presence of two demonic minions, Grizzel and Greedigut, would alone make Ghoulies a must see, especially given how everyone continues their attempt to play the film seriously when they appear. And I haven't even mentioned the other ridiculous minions, which are obviously puppets and "dead props" (Band seems to love puppets), and were the beginning of a horror industry attempt to cash in on the success of Gremlins (also seen later in such films as the Critters series and Munchies). We also get zombies, a Star Wars-like battle of wizards, sunglasses as a major plot device, an evil doll, an attack with a 5 foot long tongue, and some probably unintentional homoerotic subtext. Who could pass all of that up? The film gets a 7 out of 10 from me--an 8 out of 10 would have been in order, except for the inexplicable absence of gratuitous nudity.
Note that while Ghoulies is tagged "comedy/horror", it's very unlikely that it was intended to be a comedy in any way. Even if Band applied the label to the film prior to release, it was probably because even he realized how ludicrous the film turned out. At any rate, it would be misguided to watch it expecting intentional humor.
44 out of 55 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.Permalink 6 /10 jamesbourke59 30 August 2012
Yes indeed the 1980's when I was but a very impressionable teenager, it felt like my every waking hour was spent in my local videostore, and when I was in school, I was always thinking about what movie I was going to watch next.
As was the case back then, a cool looking cover was always the catalyst for me to hire the movie regardless of whether or not I enjoyed the movie.
So Ghoulies was to be my introduction to the cinematic world of a certain film producer Charles Band, and his company Empire Pictures. Having just recently revisited the world of Ghoulies, and just about to embark on my fortieth year on this earth, I have hand on heart began to realise that what I liked when I was a teenager, has not remained the case as I've gotten older.
No matter what the detractors think of Charles Band's riff on Gremlins, the movie does have more plus points than negatives. The overall acting is pretty spot on, Peter Liapis as Jonathan Graves truly devours his part as Jonathan Graves, heir apparent to the supernatural throne left to him by his late demented father Malcolm, Michael Des Barres.
Des Barres has never been an actor that I've been to keen on, maybe it's his accent that I find somewhat off putting, but then again if you've ever watched him in Diary Of A Sex Addict, the title pretty much summed that movie up, but let us not forget his turn in Nightflyers.
You know when your a teenager, and you just watch copious amounts of nonsense, you tens to forget what you've watched and just who was in it, back in 85, I had no idea who Jack Nance was, but then I still hadn't watched Eraserhead, but Nance participation was a bit of a shock to me, I did find myself doing a double take when I spotted him hiding behind that fake beard, but you never forget that crazy eyed stare.
But what about the movie itself. Like I've mentioned previously, viewing the movie as an adult, you still sensed the atmosphere, those pesky Ghoulies, still look as cheap and cheerful and not quite scary as ever, but Luca Bercovici does capture some pretty good stuff on camera.
Of particular mention was the scene when Malcolm rises from his grave, quite striking and very well lit.
Ghoulies was my first introduction to Charles Band, but it wasn't until I watched Trancers, that my interest in Band's output truly took hold of my teenage years, and throughout the next two decades.
Ghoulies 2 was a smart little follow up three years later, ignore the next two sequels, as really you can't hold a candle to the original.
If you're a fan of campy, cheesy horror films, as I am, Ghoulies is a must see. Everyone else should probably avoid this film. This is a Charles Band production. Charles Band means Empire/Full Moon, and Empire/Full Moon is almost a guarantee of some campiness/cheesiness. Not many of Band's films, however, approach the sublime ridiculousness of Ghoulies. We're almost in Troma territory here, but Ghoulies is played much more seriously than the typical Troma production, and in this case, it works to increase the entertainment value.
It is constantly torn between its human and animal instincts, leading to inner turmoil and difficulty in maintaining relationships. The creature often struggles to control its animalistic urges, sometimes succumbing to violent behavior or becoming a danger to those around it. Many stories surrounding the curse of the weremyawa also explore themes of isolation and the search for acceptance. The creature is often portrayed as an outcast, rejected by society due to its dual nature. This rejection further fuels its inner struggle, as it yearns for a sense of belonging while fearing the potential harm it may cause to others. Despite the curse, some stories depict the weremyawa as tragic figures, with hopes of finding a way to break the curse and regain their humanity. These stories often involve quests or encounters with powerful beings who offer potential solutions to the curse. However, these quests are often perilous and fraught with challenges, testing the weremyawa's character and determination. The curse of the weremyawa continues to be a popular theme in literature, movies, and folklore, captivating audiences with its exploration of duality, inner conflict, and the pursuit of redemption..
Reviews for "The Weremyawa Curse in Popular Culture: Movies, Books, and TV Shows"
1. John - 2 stars - "Curss of the weremyawa" was a disappointment for me. The plot was confusing and poorly developed, and the characters lacked depth and motivation. I found it hard to connect with any of the characters or care about what happened to them. The dialogue also felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to engage with the story. Overall, I was left unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing with the series.
2. Sarah - 1 star - I cannot understand why "Curss of the weremyawa" has received positive reviews. The writing was riddled with grammatical errors and typos, which made it difficult to read. The story itself was predictable and lacked originality. The author used clichés and relied on overused tropes, contributing to a lack of originality. I expected much more from this book and was ultimately let down. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written story.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Curss of the weremyawa" had potential, but it failed to deliver. The pacing was off, with slow and uneventful stretches followed by rushed and confusing action scenes. The world-building was not well-executed, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. Additionally, the romantic subplot felt forced and lacked chemistry. Overall, the book felt disjointed and poorly planned, leaving me frustrated and uninvested in the story or its outcome.
4. Michael - 2 stars - I couldn't get past the clichéd and one-dimensional characters in "Curss of the weremyawa." The protagonist was a typical 'chosen one' with no real personality or unique traits. The side characters were forgettable and lacked development, serving only as plot devices. The lack of character depth made it difficult to care about what happened to them. The potential for interesting relationships and dynamics fell flat, leaving me disinterested in the story as a whole. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for compelling and well-rounded characters.
5. Stephanie - 1 star - "Curss of the weremyawa" was a struggle to get through. The writing was amateurish, filled with awkward sentences and inconsistent pacing. The plot was unoriginal and predictable, offering no surprises or twists. The world-building was underdeveloped, leaving the setting feeling generic and uninteresting. I found myself rolling my eyes at the predictable dialogue and lackluster action scenes. Overall, this book was a disappointment, and I would not recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating and well-written fantasy novel.